Korean Job Discussion Forums

[igotthisguitar]

Texas Man Freed After 26 Years In Prison
By JEFF CARLTON, Associated Press Writer
Thu Jan 3, 4:20 PM ET

DALLAS - A man who contended throughout his 26 years in prison that he never raped a woman who lived
five houses down from him was freed Thursday after a judge recommended overturning his conviction.



Charles Chatman, 47, was released on his recognizance as several of his eight siblings cheered. He was freed on the basis of new DNA testing that lawyers say proves his innocence and adds to Dallas County's nationally unmatched number of wrongfully convicted inmates.

"I'm bitter. I'm angry," Chatman told The Associated Press during his last night in jail Wednesday. "But I'm not angry or bitter to the point where I want to hurt anyone or get revenge."

He became the 15th inmate from Dallas County since 2001 to be freed by DNA testing.

MORE ...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080103/ap_on_re_us/dna_exoneration_18

[igotthisguitar]

Man Walks Free 17 Years After Conviction
By FRANK ELTMAN, Associated Press Writer
Fri Jan 4, 4:24 AM ET

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. - Moments before a judge sentenced him to 50 years to life in prison, Martin Tankleff uttered the words he has repeated for almost two decades: "I stand before you innocent of this charge. I loved my parents. I did not kill them."

His appeal fell on deaf ears that day in October 1990, as it did many more times during the 17 years he languished in prison.



Then a panel of judges overturned Tankleff's murder conviction last month, citing possible evidence that a business associate might have had a role in Tankleff's parents' deaths. On Wednesday, prosecutors said they would not retry Tankleff, making him a free man.

At a Manhattan news conference Thursday, Tankleff, now 36, thanked his legal team and relatives who stood by him. He spoke about getting a college education and perhaps attending law school. "I have a lot to do," he said. "Every day I got up in prison, I knew I wasn't alone in my fight. I had my aunts, my uncles, my cousins, and they're all still there."

His exoneration ended an extraordinary legal odyssey that included a coerced confession, a drawn-out appeal bankrolled by a team of high-powered lawyers who took the case pro bono and "conspiracy theories" about the identity of the real killers.

MORE ...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080104/ap_on_re_us/double_murder_confession;_ylt=AnEHBe5Q82MKtpwBAYpE7xFH2ocA

[caniff]

These stories suck on so many different levels. And Texas is apparently a fucking backwater when it comes to thorough law enforcement investigations, fair trials and sentencings (as the state is famous for these atrocities - which is what they are).

[mistermasan]

but they still can't teach english with or without BA degrees in korea. they have records.

[bacasper]

These cases sadly come up with all too much regularity. Even worse, over 100 falsely convicted men have been freed from death row.

Law enforcement types are always saying they need more tools (=laws) to fight crime. From these cases, it seems they have too many already.

As far as teaching in Korea, after they apply for and are granted expungement of their records, a check ought to come back clean. I hope they got their degrees while they were locked up.

[ddeubel]

Yes, Iran (oops, I mean Texas), is not famous for clear headed justice.

We have to applaud those that fight for these forsaken souls. The family members who stood fast and the underpaid activists and lawyers. The Innocence project in the U.S. is a great thing and all of us should support it. They freed over 190 innocent people rotting away in prison for serious crimes.

If anyone hasn't seen it, The Trials of Daryl Hunt is a top notch doc. One of the best and tells of his struggles for justice during almost 20 years in prison. Especially his struggles not to be vengeful.

DD

[caniff]

DD, do you know which country is responsible for the VAST majority of executions? Amnesty International recently said it was probably 80% of the world's total (but they acknowledged it is could be higher).

I'll give you a hint: it isn't America.

[mistermasan]

china.

but...how are executions any different than abortions? or euthenasia?

[caniff]

[ddeubel]

Caniff,

I"m well aware of how government's kill and who is doing what......

My point is/was, that Texas is a place of institutionalized bigotry and inhumanity. Institutionalized. Bush jr. just one of her ill born. Just like Iran. No higher and no lower. Further - per capita, Texas is right beside Iran in terms of state killings and probably leads when it comes to killing "innocents".

DD